In the past year or so, a new generation of customers started beelining to this swanky Upper East Side bar at the Carlyle. The younger crowd here these days can be seen drinking espresso martinis and documenting the historic space on social media. But what hasn’t changed at Bemelmans is the live piano music, eclectic mix of patrons, and the murals by Ludwig Bemelmans. The cocktails and service remain first rate, too.

Legend has it that the bloody mary was popularized in America at the St. Regis, when in 1934 a bartender introduced a concoction known as the Red Snapper. It’s the signature drink all these years later at the ultra-high-end King Cole, with its giant mural that makes the establishment a spot for well-heeled regulars, tourists, and cocktail enthusiasts.

Coming across Rum House is like finding a hidden gem in an area not otherwise known for its cocktail scene. Unlike the big national chains dotting the surrounding blocks, the bar is cozy, low-key, and feels timeless. In addition to the extensive rum list, cocktails of all kinds are worth exploring while enjoying the occasional live music.

The Algonquin’s historic bar is as much a museum as it is a drinking spot. The hotel was the site of lunches and many rounds of drinks for the literary Algonquin Round Table, which included Dorothy Parker. Now the Blue Bar is awash in blue lighting that makes for a neat refuge from Times Square while nursing a martini with top-shelf gin.

When the beloved Chelsea speakeasy Raines Law Room is too crowded, consider its second location in Midtown’s William hotel. Mixology veteran Meaghan Dorman once again oversees the bar, which mixes up inventive cocktails like make-your-own old fashioneds and the Violet Valley (which mixes aged rum with Peruvian spiced tea). With an interior that seems modeled after an ornate Victorian living room, it’s a spot that’s conducive to sipping a cocktail or two.

The people-watching alone makes the Ace Hotel’s Lobby Bar worth a visit. The roomy, versatile space serves as a bustling office for many creative types and freelancers during the day. As evening rolls around, an afterwork crowd shows up and sometimes the space can feel like a nightclub later on in the night with DJs. In addition to cocktails and surprisingly affordable beer, there’s a Stumptown coffee just off the lobby. It’s easy to imagine spending an entire evening on one of the cozy couches or chairs.

Tucked underneath the High Line, the ground-floor beer garden is often packed with day drinkers guzzling German brews and chowing down on snacks such as sausages and giant pretzels with mustard. Line up for a game of ping pong or foosball. The space is mercifully heated during colder months.

The Marlton’s cocktail bar is a quiet, understated affair tucked away in the hotel’s lobby between the check-in desk and its French-Mediterranean cafe, Margaux. The bar menu includes various well-crafted cocktails, like the smooth Greenwich Gold (bourbon, honey, lemon, allspice dram), and mastered classics like the old fashioned. In winter time, the lobby fireplace roars and seats surrounding it are in high demand.

The sleek Public hotel — exhibit A: the glowing escalators are perfect Instagram bait — goes for a more nostalgic vibe with Bar Chyrstie. The velvet emerald green chairs and shimmering chandeliers take a page from iconic bars like Bar Hemingway at the Hôtel Ritz Paris and Harry’s Bar in Venice. For cocktails, classics like martinis and old fashioneds get an updated touch with dramatic flair like smoky ice cubes and ornate glassware.

Situated on the 22nd floor of the William Vale, Westlight manages to outdo many surrounding rooftops with a sweeping city view from a wraparound terrace. From Andrew Carmellini’s NoHo Hospitality, Westlight’s modern design touches and thoughtfully executed food and drinks put it far above the standard rooftop lounge. Stick to classic cocktails rather than overpriced original concoctions.

The cocktails and rooftop views from the Wythe Hotel at Bar Blondeau would stand out against any hotel bar in NYC. But it’s the food (from the team behind the well-reviewed, French-leaning Le Crocodile downstairs) that sets this establishment apart. Eater critic Ryan Sutton enjoyed his cocktails, but it was dishes like the smoky tuna confit and saffron rice that stood out above the typical bar bites menu at most places.